Lunch-box.



R. A. CLARK.

LUNCH BOX. APPLlCATloN Flu-:n AuG.2o. 1914.

Patented June 15, 1915.

R. A. CLARK.

LUNCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20. I9m.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented J une 15, 1915 am ue- 14 1701, Xav/ IIR''J'UIH A. CLARK, OF TRENTON, MISSOURI.

LUNCH-BOX.

'Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1.915.

' Application filed August 20, 1914. Serial No. 857,641.

To all whom t may concern Be it vknown that I, RUTH A. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Grundy and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Lunch-Box; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the'ar't to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and useful im rovedluneh carrier or box.

s an object of the invention it is the aim to provide a simple and efficient construction of lunch carrier, for the support of'dishes, bottles, Vfruit jars and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this nature comprising improved and .practical features of construction.

One of the features of construction is the provision of a dominant frame or casing l having a drawer in its bottom, and an auxiliary :frame fitting the dominant frame and comprising top and -bottom perforated shelves of 'an elongated contour yto correspond with and fit the dominant frame,- there being intermediate perforated shelv'es of different llengths between the top and bottom shelves.

It is to be understood vthat theimproved` carrier or box and the shelves andthe like upon the interior of thelbox may be of any suitable dimensions or shape. vSaid perforated shelves are held together and superimposed, by means of spacing sleeves androds, there being nuts to hold the parts of the structure together. y v

In practical fields the details of `construction may necessitate alterations,rfalling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as herinafterset forth, shown in the drawings `and claimed.

In the drawings z-Figure E1'is a view in perspective of the improved lunch carrier or box showing the same closed, but the drawer' at the bottom being opened.v Fi'g. 2 is a view in perspective, showing the front `of the lunch box folded downwardly, thereby illustrating the interior plurality of perforated shelves. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective viewl of the plurality of perforated shelves. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional fragmentar view of the shelves and the sleeves. Fig. 5 1s a transverse sectional view on line 5` -'5"of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the auxiliary frame showing the shelves of lengths different to the shelves in the other figures, and arranged diderently. Referring more particularly to the draw- 1ng s, l1 designates the dominant frame or casingcomp'rising vthe end piecesg, the bottom 3, the longitudinal sides 4 and 5, and the'top 6. `A partition 7 is arranged in the lower portion of the dominant frame or casing, thereby dividing the 'frame or casing into a large compartment and a smaller compartment 9. A suitable drawer 10 is slidably arranged 'in the smaller compartmen-t 9, which drawer isfprovided with a space 11, for the reception of cutlery, collapsible cups, table linen, towels and the like, there being a smaller ception of knives, forks, spoons, sleeves, rods and nuts, andthe like. The division plate 13 divides'the drawer into these two corn-` partments or spaces. Suitable hooks or latches 14 are provided on the drawer for engaging the eyes l'tofhold the drawer locked. Hinged at 16 is the' longitudinal front side 5, the hinge 16 extending the full llength of the casing, thereby preventing .leakage-of any uid or the like to a great extent. The front longitudinal side 5 is provided'with space 12, for the rev end anges 17 to engage upon the outside of the end pieces l2 ofthe casing or frame. The top '6 is hlngedly connected at 18 to the cas ing, said hinge extending the full length thereof, and serving the same purpose as the hinge 16. 'Thetop or cover 1s provided v to engageeyes 24 of the lfront side 5. Con-- necting the end pieces 2 and the front sides 5 at its end edges are chains 25,'acting to 'support the front side 5 when the same is opened and thrown downwardly. Suitable ventilating slides 27 are provided on the end pieces 2. Also onthe end pieces are handles 28, there also being a handle 29 on the top or cover 6. n An auxiliary frame 30 1s provided, which ranged between ed by the vertical rods 33. rlhese rods 33 pass or telescope through the tubular members or sleeves 34.y The lower ends of the rods 33 are provided with heads countersunken -in'the lower portions of the tubular members or sleeves-34, to prevent scratching the bottom of the dominant frame or casing. Upon 'the' upper end of the rods 33 winged nuts 35 are threaded, thereby holding the rods in place, binding the tubular members between the heads 35 and said winged nuts, and also bindin removing the wmged nuts 35 the parts of the' structure may' be disassembled. Ar-

the top and bottom shelves 3l and .32 are intermediate perforated shelves 36 and 37. rllhe ends 38 of the shelves 36 and 37 are mounted upon the rods 33 at one end of the auxiliary frame, and between the sleeves 34. Passing through the lower-shelf 32, and through the shelves 37 are rods 39, which also pass through the sleeves 40, two of the .sleeves 40 hold the shelves 37 spaced apart from the shelf 32 and from each other, there being nuts 4l on the rods 39, to hold the shelves 37 in place relative to the shelf 32. Short rods 43 connect the shelf 36 to one of the shelves 37, there` being spacing sleeves or tubes 44 on said rods 43, and nuts 4 5. .It will be observed, as shown in Fig. 6, that the shelves 36 and 37 may be arranged differently, and furthermore it is apparent that the shelves 36 and 37 may be of diii'erentv lengthsthan shown in the other figures, and moreover, an extra supply of shelves may be utilized, also sleeves. vand rods.` The spaces between the intermediate shelves of different lengths are for the 'reception of plates and of' vietuals and the like, while the spaces beyond the shelves of different lengths are for the reception of bottles, fruit jars and the like. v

This form of lunch carrier' or box may be constructed of any suitable material, for instance, aluminum, galvanized sheet iron, heavy tin, granite or the like, and may be constructed in various sizes.

ln manufacturing the lunch carrier or box, some may be lconstructed as shown, others madev comparatively small and provided with bail handles whereby the same the shelves in place. By

Liaaeea may be carriedeasily. Others may be provided with a common ordinary lid, top or cover and constructed without sliding drawers and without drop front orhinged top.

ln'Fig. 6 there is shown a series of rods 34a, without sleeves. These rods may extend through all the shelves adj aeent each of their longitudinal and end edges, to prevent large dishes and the like from slipping about in the carrier or b ox. These rods may be disposed farther toward the center of said shelves to prevent a different or smaller sized dish or dishes from slipping. Furthermore, a series of rods 34b maybe arranged annularly, to prevent dishes from slipping, that is, such as saucers and the like, which may be arranged within the annular arrangementsvof said rods 34".

Hangers 18B as shown in Figs. l and 5,! are provided, whereby the carrier or lunch box may be suspended in the pantry or other suitable place. When the carrier or box is not suspended, these hangersy may be'turned down out of the way.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. ln a lunch carrier, a casing, top andbottom perforated shelves to `correspond with and it the casing, intermediate shelves of di'erent lengths between the top and bottom shelves, said intermediate shelves being adjustable and spaced apart, and forming spaces of one end of the casing.

2. .lin a lunch carrier, a casing, top and bottom perforated shelves to correspond with and 'fit in the casing, intermediate shelves, said intermediate shelves being adjustable and spaced apart, and forming spaces'of different heights and lengths at one end of the casing, and a series of super-imposed sleeves for holding the several perforated shelves spaced apart from di'erentheights and lengths at shelves of different lengths between the top and bottom 

